The Federation of Indian Pharmacists Organisations (FIPO) organised nation wide protest rallies on Tuesday demanding the revision of their pay scale at entry point, better promotional avenues, appointment of a pharmacy adviser in the Union Ministry of Health and also strict implementation of Section 42 of the Pharmacy Act.

The Delhi Unit of the Federation carried out the demonstration in the Parliament street also raised the demand for inclusion of pharmacist in the National Health Care Programmes during the protest rally. The protesters demanded the introduction of part time three years B. Pharm Course for working diploma-holding pharmacists. The FIPO has also stressed that a people-oriented national drug policy be evolved and adopted.

The Federation accused the Government of never having tried to look into the demands of pharmacists and claimed that it was in view of the non-fulfilment of their demands that the FIPO was forced to paralyze work and come out with demonstrations.

Pharmacists from various branches of the Federation including those from the Central Government Health Scheme, Employees States Insurance Corporation, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Administration and New Delhi Municipal Council took part in the protest.

"The FIPO is amazed at the Ministry of Petroleum and Chemical's recommendation to the Government of India stating that medical store can be started without the services of a qualified pharmacists. This is a highly unscientific decision, harmful to the health care delivery system of our country,'' said M.S. Arya, FIPO state general secretary.